The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has approved 150 free health insurance enrollments for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
In addition, the Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adam, pledged to personally sponsor 50 more journalists annually in memory of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali, a former Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development who was killed in the line of duty.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT Council leadership to the Secretariat. With the combined pledges, a total of 200 journalists will benefit from the free health insurance enrollment, with expectations that additional partners may support the initiative.
Dr. Fasawe said the gesture aligns with ongoing efforts to expand affordable healthcare access and promote universal health coverage across the Federal Capital Territory. She described the media as a strategic partner in public health promotion and awareness creation.
“Prevention is better than cure. If journalists are well informed about our scheme, benefit from it, and access free healthcare services, the message naturally spreads,” she said.
She explained that the FCT Health Insurance Scheme provides enrollees access to free healthcare services for one year upon payment of an annual premium of N22,500. The package covers services such as childbirth, surgeries, and emergency care at accredited facilities.
Fasawe acknowledged that poor health-seeking behaviour among residents is often linked to financial constraints and mistrust of the system, assuring that the administration remains committed to delivering reliable and quality healthcare services.
“Health is wealth. When we say we will provide healthcare, we will deliver,” she added.
Dr. Adam, in his remarks, called for stronger public-private partnerships to expand coverage and improve access. He urged the NUJ leadership to prioritise the most vulnerable journalists who cannot afford healthcare as beneficiaries of the free enrollment.
“We need a comprehensive database to engage more partners. Beyond government, we can mobilise philanthropists to increase enrollment figures, possibly up to 300,” he said.
He also noted that poor remuneration in parts of the media industry affects welfare and objectivity, stressing the need to support journalists’ wellbeing.
Responding, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, commended the FCT Health Insurance Scheme for reducing out-of-pocket expenses and expanding access to inclusive healthcare.
“Your initiatives have touched countless lives, from vulnerable families to civil servants, ensuring that no one is left behind,” she said.
Ike reaffirmed the union’s commitment to promoting awareness of health insurance benefits and advocating improved service delivery. She appealed for possible rebates to enable more members enroll, citing financial constraints as a major challenge facing journalists.
She also called for sustained collaboration to combat misinformation, boost enrollment, and ensure healthcare becomes a right rather than a privilege for FCT residents.
